Heating device with a ceramic back panel and an attachment for a heating device

ABSTRACT

According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a heating device including: top and bottom walls, front, rear and side walls extending therebetween, all forming therebetween an interior of said heating device, said front wall being made of a see-through material; and a back panel made of a ceramic non-fiber material, such as porcelain, and mounted to the bottom wall and the top wall so as to be spaced from the rear wall and so as to conceal the rear wall at least when seen through the front wall.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter refers to heating devices having decorative back panels disposed adjacent their rear walls.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a heating device comprising

-   -   top and bottom walls, front, rear and side walls extending         therebetween, all forming therebetween an interior of said         heating device, said front wall being made of a see-through         material; and     -   a back panel made of a ceramic non-fiber material, such as         porcelain, and mounted to the bottom wall and the top wall so as         to be spaced from the rear wall and so as to conceal the rear         wall at least when seen through the front wall.

The back panel can be in the form of a ceramic non-fiber tile, which is a part of a set comprising in addition to the back panel at least other ceramic non-fiber tile configured for being mounted to an exterior of the heating device at least at one side thereof to allow the back panel to be seen as a continuation of the at least one additional tile at least through the front panel.

The side wall of the heating device, near which the at least one additional tile is configured to be mounted, can be made of a see-through material to allow the back panel to be seen therethrough as a continuation of the additional tile.

The back panel can be held in place by top and bottom holders spaced from the rear wall and mounted to respective top and bottom walls of the heating device.

When the rear wall is made of metal, which can undergo deformation when heated to operational temperatures of the heating device, the spacing between the back panel and the rear wall can be such as to prevent the rear wall if deformed under said temperatures, from contacting the back panel.

The material, of which the back panel is made, can have a decorative pattern. In this case, the at least one additional tile of the set that includes the back panel has the same pattern as the back panel.

In accordance with another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided an attachment for use with a heating device having front, rear and side walls, of which at least the front wall and one of the side walls are in the form of see-through walls, at least the see-through side wall being a double-glazed side wall and having an inner pane facing towards an interior of the heating device, an outer pane facing towards an exterior of the heating device, and an area of the rear wall therebetween, the attachment can be configured for mounting to said area of the rear wall disposed between the inner and outer panes so as conceal said area when seen through the double-glazed wall and the front see-through wall of the heating device and, optionally, to fulfil a decorative function.

At least said area of the rear wall can be made of metal and the attachment can comprise at least one magnetic element for mounting the attachment to said area. Alternatively or in addition, at least a portion of the attachment can be made of a magnetic material..

The attachment can constitute a part of a set further comprising at least one decorative panel configured for being mounted to an exterior of the heating device at least on the side of the heating device adjacent the double-glazed wall, for the attachment to be seen as a continuation of the decorative panel so mounted.

The material from which the attachment is made, can have a decorative pattern, and the at least one decorative panel of the set can have the same pattern as the attachment.

The attachment can comprise at least one light source, which when operated, is seen through the front see-through wall and through the double-glazed wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presently disclosed subject matter will be more fully understood from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings like reference numerals generally refer to similar elements throughout. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a heating device installed on a wall recess of an external wall, according to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional top view of the heating device as shown in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top view of a heating device according to another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, which is directed to a heating device that can be used, e.g. as a fireplace.

Many specific details of certain embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter are set forth in the description and in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, to provide a thorough understanding of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the presently disclosed subject matter may have additional embodiments, or that the presently disclosed subject matter may be practiced without several of the details described below

It needs to be indicated that in the examples described below, well known structures associated with heating devices, such as gas lines, ventilation system, burner assemblies and the like, have not been shown or described to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail there are illustrated examples of heating devices constructed in accordance with the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter.

One such heating device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In FIG. 1A, the heating device 10 is shown in a wall recess 20 with an external 8 extending on both sides of the heating device 10.

The heating device 10 comprises of a top wall 1, a bottom wall 2, a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, a first side wall 5 a, and a second side wall 5 b all forming therebetween an interior 12 of the heating device 10. The interior 12 of the heating device 10 accommodates techniques (not seen) configured for providing warmth in an ambient environment of the heating device 10, and decorations 14 looking like wood, to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the heating device.

In the described example, the front wall 3 of the heating device 10, as well as its first and second side walls 5 a and 5 b, are made of a see through material, which permits the interior 12 of the heating device 10 to be visible to a person looking through the front wall 3 and the side wall 5 a or 5 b. The see through material can be in the form of a transparent plate or panel, which is capable of withstanding high temperature. Non-limiting examples of such material are heat tempered glass or transparent thermo-resistant plastic.

The heating device 10 generally has a rectangular configuration, however other geometric configurations of the heating device 10, depending upon the user design preference of the heating device 10, are within the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.

As best seen in FIG. 1B, the heating device 10 further includes a back panel 6 mounted to the bottom wall 2 and the top wall 1 so as to be spaced from the rear wall 4. The back panel 6 conceals the rear wall 4 of the heating device 10 when seen through the front wall 3 and side wall 5 a or 5 b. The back panel 6 is made from ceramic non-fiber material, such as porcelain. The advantages of using the ceramic non-fiber material is that, on the one hand, it can enhance the heat radiation performance of the heating device 10 and is resistant to high temperature, and on the other hand, it can be used to decorate the interior of the heating device 10. It can further protect the rear wall from overheating.

The material, from which the back panel 6 is made, can have a decorative pattern for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the heating device 10.

The back panel 6 is held within the interior 12 of the heating device 10 in its position spaced from the rear wall 4 by a top holder and a bottom holder (not seen) so as to allow the mounting and removal of the back panel 6 from the heating device 10. The top and bottom holders can comprise a locking or clamping arrangement to engage the back panel 6.

The rear wall 4 of the heating device 10 is typically made from metal, such as steel or cast iron. Such metallic materials normally undergo deformation when subjected to heat and therefore, when the heating device 10 is operational at high temperatures the rear wall 4 can undergo thermal deformation. To accommodate such deformations of the rear wall 4 of the heating device 10, spacing 7 is provided between the back panel 6 and the rear wall 4 to prevent the rear wall 4 when deformed under high temperatures, from contacting the back panel 6. This spacing 7 accounts for the thermal expansion of the rear wall 4 and prevents the rear wall 4 from damaging the back panel 6 by any physical contact.

The back panel 6 can constitute a part of a set comprising at least one additional panel for mounting to an exterior of the heating device, the additional panel having the same or similar appearance as the back panel 6 and, optionally, being made of the same material. Such additional panel is designated as 11 in FIGS. 1A and 1B and it is shown there as being mounted to the surface 8 adjoining the side wall 5 a of the heating device 10 so that a user looking at the heating device 10 through the front wall 3 or the side wall 5 a obtains an impression of such visual continuity of the additional panel 11 and the back panel 6 as if the back panel 6 constituted a real continuation of the surface 8. The additional panel 11 can be in the form of a ceramic tile e.g. made from ceramic non-fiber material and possessing the same or similar design, pattern and color as the back panel 6.

The back panel 6 can constitute a part of a set comprising plurality of additional tiles having the same or similar design, pattern and color as the back panel 6 and configured for mounting on the surface 8 adjoining the side wall 5 a and, optionally, also adjoining the opposite side wall 5 b of the heating device, to provide a visual continuity of the back panel 6 with the additional tiles, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the heating device 10 in the wall recess 20.

The back panel 6 and, optionally, the additional tile/s can be made from ceramic non-fiber material that is suitable for virtually every interior and exterior design project including flooring, cladding, countertops, backsplashes, and fireplace surrounds. The ceramic non-fiber materials are durable, lightweight, simple to clean and allow the user to create a beautiful new look by promoting a sense of overall elegance, and they can also be produced in various customizable designs and colors that will be highly functional as well as decorative.

The heating device 10 can be attached to the surface 8 using various connecting assemblies like screws, hooks, etc. A plurality of connecting flanges or clamps can be located on the walls of the heating device 10 to facilitate the joining of the heating device 10 with the surface 8.

FIG. 2 shows another example of a heating device 100, which differs from the heating device 10 in that its front wall 103, first side wall 105 a and, optionally, second side wall 105 b are double-glazed, each having an inner pane and an outer pane, the inner panes of the front and side walls forming therebetween an interior 112 of the heating device 100.

More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the first side wall 105 a comprises an inner pane 115 a and an outer pane 116 a, the second side wall 105 b comprises of an inner pane 115 b and an outer pane 116 b and the front wall 103 comprises of an inner pane 115 c and an outer pane 116 c, the inner panes (115 a, 115 b, 115 c) facing towards the interior 112 of the heating device 100 and the outer panes (116 a, 116 b, 116 c) facing towards an exterior 113 of the heating device 100. Due to the double-glazed structure of the front wall 103, first side wall 105 a and, optionally, second side wall 105 b, heating of the outer panes of these walls is reduced, whereby safer exploitation thereof can be facilitated. The double-glazed front and side walls can be made of a see through material, which permits the interior 112 of the heating device 100 to be visible to a person looking at the heating device 100.

Similarly to the heating device 10, the heating device 100 is fixed to an external wall 108 and it further includes a back panel 106 attached to a rear wall 104 of the heating device, similar to the back panel 6, whilst the external wall 108 can have one or more additional panels 111 attached thereto at least adjacent the first side wall 105 a, similarly to the additional panel/s 11 attached to the wall 8.

To provide the visual continuity between the back panel 106 and the additional panel/s 11 mounted on the external wall 108 adjacent the first side 105 a, the heating device 100 can be provided with a strip 120 a mounted between the inner pane 115 a and the outer pane 116 a of the first side wall 105 a, and made of a material that has the same design, pattern and color as the back panel 106 and the additional panel/s 111, being configured to conceal an area 119 a of the rear wall 104 of the heating device between the inner and outer panes 115 a and 116 a, respectively, of the first side wall 105, when seen therethrough and through the front wall 103 of the heating device 100.

At least the area 119 a of the rear wall 104 of the heating device can be made of metal and the strip 120 a can be in the form of an attachment that comprises one or more magnetic elements 114 for mounting the attachment 120 a to the rear wall area 119. The magnetic element 114 can provide a secure connection of the attachment 120 to the rear wall area 119 a of the double-glazed first side wall 105 a. Alternatively, the attachment 120 a can be at least partially made of or can comprise a magnetic material.

The heating device 100 can comprise an additional attachment 120 b (not shown) mounted between the inner pane 115 b and the outer pane 116 b of the second side wall 105 b of the heating device at an area 119 b of its rear wall 104. The additional attachment 120 b can be identical to the attachment 120 a.

As mentioned above with respect to the attachment 120 a, this attachment and, optionally, the attachment 120 b can be made of a material having the same appearance as that of the back panel 106 of the heating device 100 and/or additional panel/s mounted to the external wall 108 adjacent its double-glazed first side wall 105 a and, optionally, second side wall 105 b, respectively. In fact, the back panel 106, the attachment 120 a and 120 b, if any, and the panel/s 111 can constitute a set of tiles, which when mounted as described above, can provide the user looking at the heating device 100 with a visual continuity when the heating device is seen through the front wall 103 and any of its side wall/s.

An attachment designed similarly to the attachment 120 a, or having a completely different design directed to enhance the decorative attractiveness of the heating device 100, can be mounted between inner and outer panes of a double-glazed side wall of a heating device, in any manner described above, even if such device does not have a back panel, like the back panel 106 of the heating device 100. For example, the attachment can comprise one or more light sources such as any one of LED, OLED, fluorescent bulb, halogen bulb, incandescent light bulb or any other lighting devices.

The light source/s (not shown) mounted within the double-glazed wall/s of a heating device can be fully controlled by the user with a remote handset. For example, the user can adjust the use of lighting and levels of illumination of the light sources. Illumination from the light sources, when the fire is off, can add aesthetic ambience to the surroundings of the heating device 100 and when the fire is on, the lighting can add brightness and definition to the heating device 100. The effect of the light sources can be seen through the front wall and/or through the double-glazed side wall/s of the heating device 100.

In accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter, the term ‘see-through’ with respect to the walls of the heating device, generally means that the wall is transparent. The transparent material used for the construction of the walls of the heating device can be, for example, heat tempered glass or thermo-resistant plastic.

In all the aforementioned examples of a heating device of the presently disclosed subject matter, the heating device is mounted in the wall recess formed in an external wall. However, heating device may be installed at various other modern and contemporary architectural locations and in various sizes, which suits the needs of the user. For example, the heating device can be installed at the corner of a living place, in such a case the heating device may have two portions with corresponding transparent walls meeting at one corner. The presently disclosed subject matter allows customization of the heating device according to a specific design requirements of the user.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the presently disclosed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the presently disclosed subject matter and various described embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A heating device, comprising: top and bottom walls, front, rear and side walls extending therebetween, all forming therebetween an interior of said heating device, said front wall being made of a see-through material; and a back panel made of a ceramic non-fiber material, and mounted to the bottom wall and the top wall so as to be spaced from the rear wall and so as to conceal the rear wall at least when seen through the front wall.
 2. The heating device of claim 1, wherein the back panel constitutes a ceramic non-fiber tile, which is a part of a set comprising in addition to the back panel at least one additional ceramic non-fiber tile configured for being mounted to an exterior of the heating device at least at one side thereof to allow the back panel to be seen as a continuation of the at least one additional tile at least through the front panel.
 3. The heating device of claim 2, wherein the side wall of the heating device near which the additional tile is configured to be mounted, is made of a see-through material to allow the back panel to be seen therethrough as a continuation of the additional tile.
 4. The heating device of claim 2, wherein the at least one additional tile of the set has the same pattern as the back panel.
 5. The heating device of claim 1, wherein the back panel is held in place by top and bottom holders spaced from the rear wall.
 6. The heating device of claim 1, wherein the rear wall is made of metal, which can undergo deformation when heated to operational temperatures of the heating device, and the spacing between the back panel and the rear wall is such as to prevent the rear wall if deformed under said temperatures, from contacting the back panel.
 7. The heating device of claim 1, wherein the ceramic non-fiber material, of which the back panel is made, has a decorative pattern.
 8. The heating device of claim 1, wherein the ceramic non-fiber material includes porcelain.
 9. An attachment for use with a heating device having front, rear and side walls, of which at least the front wall and one of the side walls are in the form of see-through walls, at least the see-through side wall being a double-glazed side wall and having an inner pane facing towards an interior of the heating device, an outer pane facing towards an exterior of the heating device, and an area of the rear wall therebetween, the attachment being configured for mounting to said area of the rear wall disposed between the inner and outer panes so as conceal said area when seen through the double-glazed wall and the front see-through wall of the heating device.
 10. The attachment of claim 9, wherein at least said area of the rear wall is made of metal and the attachment comprises at least one magnetic element for mounting the attachment to said area.
 11. The attachment of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the attachment is made of a magnetic material.
 12. The attachment of claim 9, wherein the attachment is configured to fulfil a decorative function.
 13. The attachment according to claim 12, constituting a part of a set further comprising at least one decorative panel configured for being mounted to an exterior of the heating device at least on the side of the heating device adjacent the double-glazed wall, for the attachment to be seen as a continuation of the decorative panel so mounted.
 14. The attachment according to claim 9, wherein the material from which the attachment is made, has a decorative pattern.
 15. The attachment according to claim 13, wherein the at least one decorative panel of the set has the same pattern as the attachment.
 16. The attachment according to claim 9, wherein the attachment comprises at least one light source, which when operated, is seen through the front see-through wall and through the double-glazed wall. 